Valentine’s Day treat for parents of sick children

Families staying at Ronald McDonald House Tooting, the free home away from home accommodation for families who have children in hospital, were treated to a special Valentine’s Day dinner on Friday 14 February 2014 thanks to big-hearted volunteers.

A sumptuous three-course meal was prepared for families at the eight-bedroom House, which is situated within the grounds of St George’s Hospital in south-west London, and served in a room specially decorated for the occasion with heart-shaped balloons, chocolates and red roses.

The meal, which for some of the families was a precious opportunity to spend time together after visiting their child on the hospital ward, was cooked and served by a team of five volunteers from Hands on London, an organisation that works with charities to offer volunteering opportunities across the capital.

Among the guests at Ronald McDonald House Tooting who enjoyed the lovingly-prepared treat were Amanda and Danny Bolton from Croydon, south London, who are staying at the House while their son Danny is under the care of doctors and nurses at St George’s Hospital.

Amanda Bolton says: “Valentine’s Day is the last thing on your mind when you have a little one in hospital. The dinner was a wonderful surprise - a nice, thoughtful gesture from the staff and volunteers that gave us all a real lift. Ronald McDonald House Tooting has provided the most tremendous support to us and we really can’t thank them enough.”

Jeanette Hill, previous House Manager at Ronald McDonald House Tooting, says: “We are very grateful to Hands on London volunteers who helped to make this year’s Valentine’s Day a bit more special and memorable for the families who are staying with us. The warm, home-cooked meal was a welcome treat and was really appreciated by those who were able to join us.”

1. Ronald McDonald House Tooting is one of 14 Houses in the UK run by Ronald McDonald House Charities, an independent charity which provides free ‘home away from home’ accommodation at hospitals across the UK. It enables seriously ill children to have their families close by when they are undergoing treatment and allows them to maintain a degree of normal family life.

2. The Charity opened in 1989 and in 2013 helped support over 7,000 families with children in hospital. The Charity relies on the generosity of supporters and fundraisers, including McDonald’s customers, without whom it would be unable to continue its work